I contacted NAUI HQ and indeed the minimum age for junior certification has been changed to read 10 – 14 years, as opposed to 12 – 14 years. This was a pen and ink change.

Adam, the standards remain the same with all ages. If you haven’t had the opportunity to teach younger students, you are in for trick or a treat.

The attention span for younger students appears to be shorter, in my experience. This does present unique opportunities to modify your tried and true methods of teaching. I have found it to be extremely gratifing and sometimes frustrating to teach younger students. The true test is of you the teacher, is to make the course not only fun but “do”able. With the goal always to have a safe, well trained diver!

But there is a caveat. You the instructor must be willing to make that hard decision to stop and or postpone training to a later date if the student is not able or not capable of assuming the gradual responsibility for their own safety and actions in the scuba environment, or if the student is unable to perform the mandatory skills. As always it is up to the individual instructor to decide on the type and mode of testing of the academic knowledge.

Good Luck!
dean

This is great info (and surprisingly difficult to find on the NAUI website). Out of curiosity, what do you differently (if anything) with the Junior Certification program? I have been instructing for a few years now, but recently had my first inquiry from someone with a 14 year old son. Anything I should do different in your opinion, or is the course the same, just with restrictions on future diving (as you laid out in your post)?

Thanks,
Adam
NAUI #47934

Trained SSI Instructors can also offer their Scuba Rangers (pool only) program for 8-12 year olds. My wife teaches this and you can see a video of her class here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ3nYwqARbI — the kids LOVE IT!.